Trash Sorting Rules by Ward in Tokyo (2025 Edition)

Your Complete Guide to Waste Separation Across the City

Trash sorting in Tokyo can feel overwhelming, especially for newcomers. While Japan is known for its clean streets and high recycling standards, one important detail often surprises foreigners: trash separation rules differ by ward. That means what you can throw out as “burnable” in one part of Tokyo may be “non-burnable” in another.

In this 2025 edition of the Tokyo trash guide, we’ll walk you through:

• The types of garbage categories

• The key differences by ward

• Collection schedules

• Proper disposal methods

• Common mistakes and how to avoid them

Let’s dive into the often-overlooked—but essential—aspect of everyday life in Tokyo.

1. Why Trash Sorting Matters in Tokyo

Tokyo’s efficient waste management system is built on detailed sorting. This helps:

• Reduce landfill use

• Promote recycling and resource recovery

• Prevent fire hazards and odors

• Maintain harmony with your neighbors

Foreigners who don’t follow the rules may face passive-aggressive notes, direct warnings from landlords, or even fines depending on the violation and ward.

2. Basic Trash Categories Used in Tokyo

Almost every Tokyo ward divides trash into these main groups, though names and rules may vary:

Additional categories include used clothes, small appliances, or used cooking oil depending on the ward.

3. Burnable vs. Non-Burnable: The Gray Zone

Different wards have different criteria. For example:

• Setagaya Ward: Chopsticks and shoes are burnable

• Minato Ward: Same items may be non-burnable

• Shinjuku Ward: Leather belts go in non-burnable

• Taito Ward: Belts are burnable

When in doubt, check your ward’s official PDF guide or website (often available in English).

4. How to Check Your Ward’s Specific Rules

Tokyo has 23 special wards, each with its own system. Below are a few with summaries and links (as of 2025):

Minato-ku (Minato Ward)

• Website: https://www.city.minato.tokyo.jp

• Languages: Japanese, English, Chinese, Korean

• Recyclables: Collected separately; PET bottles must have caps and labels removed.

• Unique rule: Small electric items go in dedicated drop boxes at ward facilities.

Setagaya-ku

• Known for easy-to-understand infographics

• Sorts garbage into 5 categories

• Collection schedule varies by chōme (neighborhood)

• Large furniture pickup via online application system

Shinjuku-ku

• Offers detailed English booklet

• Cans and bottles are collected weekly, not daily

• Used clothes accepted on special days, not with regular recyclables

Meguro-ku

• Requires yellow “burnable” trash bags (2024 revision)

• Metal spoons and forks must go into non-burnable, not recyclables

• Batteries are collected on specific hazardous waste days

5. Required Trash Bags: Color, Transparency & Purchase

• Most wards require transparent or semi-transparent bags

• In some cases (e.g., Meguro), designated color-coded bags must be purchased

• Recyclables often go in any clear bag or can be bundled (e.g., newspaper tied with string)

If your building or landlord provides bags, use them. If not, you can buy acceptable bags at konbini or supermarkets.

6. Trash Collection Schedules

Each ward has a designated day for each category.

Your local ward newsletter or apartment info packet usually includes a calendar. Many wards also have smartphone apps to notify you of collection days (see Section 11).

7. How to Dispose of Large Items (Sodai Gomi)

You can’t just leave old furniture or bicycles on the curb.

Steps:

1. Book online or by phone with your ward’s sodai gomi center

2. Purchase a sticker at a convenience store (price varies by item)

3. Attach the sticker visibly to the item

4. Place it outside by 8 AM on the scheduled day

Typical fee: ¥300–¥2,000 per item

Items like air conditioners, TVs, and refrigerators require special appliance recycling and cannot be disposed via sodai gomi.

8. How to Handle Hazardous Waste

• Batteries, lighters, thermometers: Collected separately (usually monthly or quarterly)

• Fluorescent bulbs: Must be wrapped in newspaper or original packaging

• Spray cans: Fully empty, puncture if instructed

Never mix hazardous waste with burnables—it’s dangerous and illegal.

9. Apartment Trash Areas & Etiquette

Most Tokyo apartments have a dedicated trash area:

• Always put trash out on the correct day and before the designated time (usually by 8 AM)

• ️ Never put trash out the night before unless clearly permitted

• If the area has a lock or net, use it properly

• Don’t leave oversized or miscategorized trash—it frustrates neighbors and janitors

Foreign residents who fail to follow the rules risk complaints or deposits being withheld on move-out.

10. Common Sorting Mistakes to Avoid

11. Mobile Apps for Trash Sorting (2025 List)

Most wards now offer official apps to help you:

• Check schedules

• Learn how to sort by item

• Set reminders

Popular options:

• Minato City Waste Sorting App

• Setagaya Gomi Navi

• Tokyo Trash Guide (multilingual third-party app)

These apps often include bar-code scanning, allowing you to point your phone at a package to learn how to dispose of it properly.

12. What About Composting or Organic Waste?

Tokyo does not have a city-wide compost system yet. However:

• Some neighborhoods in Setagaya and Nerima are testing community compost programs.

• Compost kits are available online or from home centers (Daiso, Nitori, etc.).

• If composting at home, be careful about odor and pests—use sealed bins.

13. How Foreigners Can Adapt Quickly

✅ Pro Tips:

• Ask your landlord or a bilingual neighbor for a printed copy of your ward’s garbage guide

• Take photos of your building’s trash area and signage for translation later

• Join local Facebook groups or expat forums—trash tips are frequently discussed

• Use color stickers or labels on your bins at home to practice sorting

14. When in Doubt, Ask or Research

You can:

• Call your ward office (many have English lines)

• Use Google Translate’s camera function on trash posters

• Visit ward websites (often offer PDF sorting charts in English)

Example from Minato-ku:
https://www.city.minato.tokyo.jp/

15. Trash Culture in Japan: Beyond the Rules

Trash separation in Japan is not just about compliance—it’s about respect:

• Respect for sanitation workers

• Respect for the neighborhood and shared space

• Respect for the environment

It reflects the collective mindset of community harmony and environmental stewardship.

Final Thoughts

Navigating trash sorting in Tokyo can be confusing at first, especially because it varies by ward. But once you understand the system, it becomes second nature—and contributes to the famously clean and orderly environment Japan is known for.

As a foreign resident, following the trash rules is one of the best ways to show respect for your new community. It also helps you build trust with neighbors, property managers, and local officials.

With this 2025 guide in hand, you’re ready to master Tokyo’s complex yet fascinating trash world—one plastic bottle and banana peel at a time.